Languishing.
A term first coined in 2002 by sociologist Corey Keyes, but is widely relevant nowadays.
She describes it as the opposite of flourishing, it’s when you feel like life has lost meaning, purpose, or belonging.
It is what psychologist and New York Times author Adam Grant describes as that blah feeling.
Simply put, languishing is a state where you feel just okay. Not great, but just okay.
When languishing at work, you start to feel disengaged and have trouble focusing.
You also stop getting excited about future projects.
At home, it could feel like you’re all set in your ways, like there’s no room for improvement.
You become unproductive. You feel empty and alone.
If you think you’re languishing, here’s some tips to help you get through it.
- Make time for yourself
It might be hard to think of ways to overcome daily challenges.
Especially if you keep yourself busy all day trying to do everything.
One way to overcome languishing is to simply set aside time for yourself. Allow yourself to enjoy.
Spend some time in your garden or balcony, freshen up your mind, and unwind.
Stream your favorite TV shows, movies, and music hassle free with a fast and reliable internet connection.
It’s a good practice to set aside time each day to distract yourself with something positive and entertaining.
- Start small – and follow through
Languishing makes it hard for you to enjoy your daily life, making your goals seem a bit harder.
Try setting small achievable goals first and scale it up as time goes by, and don’t forget to celebrate or reward yourself whenever you accomplish your goals.
This helps you bring back the excitement in your life, which in turn, helps you get back on your feet and overcome what you’re feeling.
- Make daily routines
There will be mornings where you’re going to want to stay in bed all day.
You’ll feel like another day has come by and you’re still there not knowing what your purpose is.
This may happen when you’re languishing.
To get over this, start a routine so you can gradually take back control of your mind and body.
You could start waking up earlier. Grab yourself a cup of coffee, try a healthier diet, or you could start doing physical exercises.
Check out our article, The Future Is Online: How You Can Improve Your Digital Lifestyle, for some ideas to get you started.
- Acknowledge your thoughts
Reflecting on your thoughts are important to keep yourself grounded.
But don’t dwell on them too much – specifically the negative ones.
However, it’s important that you acknowledge them.
To have a better understanding of your thoughts, bring them to reality.
Start a journal, convert them into an art piece, or simply voice them out to your family or friends.
Doing this allows you to lay out the images from your mind and see them grounded in reality.
It also allows you to better understand the reasons behind what you’re feeling, and only then can you make a plan of action to address them.
- Maintain your relationships
Languishing makes you feel disconnected.
You feel aloof and don’t have the energy to interact with other people.
To get over this, you will have to make an effort to stay in touch.
This might be hard since you instinctively stay away from social occasions.
However, staying in touch with your friends and family could help out a lot.
You will start to feel connected to the world again, and you can get much needed support as well.
The pandemic has made it hard for some of us to connect with our loved ones.
But if you have a fast and reliable internet connection, you’ll feel like they’re always with you.
Go on video conferences. Call and message them, ask about how they’re doing and dealing with the pandemic. Simply stay connected.
Remember that your feelings are valid. It’s something that’s being generally felt during this pandemic. You are not alone.
And if you feel like there’s no way to get out of languishing, the best advice is always to seek help from a professional.
You can easily book an appointment through a teleconsultation service. Read our post about Teleconsultation Services You Can Book Online, to find out more.
